This glass ‘loaf’ with detailed artwork is the most awesome thing we’ve seen all year

This is amazing! Californian glassworker Loren Stump is a celebrated expert at manipulating the fickle and delicate medium of glass. Known especially for his work with murrine, over 40 years Stump has mastered the technique of layering coloured molten glass around a core and then stretching the whole thing into a rod.

Once cooled and cut into, a cross-section of this rod reveals intricate patterns. Think of it like an incredible detailed candy-cane.

Not only is Stump adept at making murrine that he can create figurative images within the cross-sections that are hidden until the rod is sliced, he is also able to combine the two-dimensional forms into three-dimensional objects.

Some of his work is mind-boggling and it’s difficult to imagine how he even begins to create these classical pictures by mixing molten glass together. But he does and the results are incredible.

Stained glass. From hobby to wholesale. Wholesale to storefront. Storefront to custom. And then lampworking from 1993 to present. Just fell into it all.

Can you tell us more about how you manage to create these loaves of glass called murrine?

Breaking down elaborate pictures or ideas into detailed components. The components are built up from strokes of molten glass (as with painting), to create eyes, noses and mouths. Then these components are heated and stretched to a smaller size. The components are then cut to shorter pieces and assembled hot with a torch to create an image. An elaborate image may contain hundreds of components and be assembled and pulled and reassembled many times.

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About the Author

Milo Sumner is a day-dreamer, living and breathing in London. When feeling low, he tends to cut loose and chase after dogs in the park. Otherwise he can usually be found pondering what to have for lunch.

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1 comment

Maria Nerius Wednesday 11 June 2014

He is the best of the best, I don’t think he gets enough credit for his skill and art! He’s also has a great sense of humor and will teach you anything you want in his classes. Even a punk like me was thrilled to be a part of two classes and got to sit right by him, which I thought was an honor, couldn’t believe no one wanted the seat! He rocks! Watching him create is a once in a lifetime experience! Bravo! Bravo!